Miniature building construction



July 2, 1935. w, KUPPER 2,006,462

MINIATURE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 12, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l eecpoo OOOOOO o o o o o o o o ATTORNEYS,

o o o INVENTOR. O O WALL/r707 Kl/PPER, o 0 BY 0 o 0 Q o a o o o d July 2, 1935. w KUPPER 2,006,462

MINIATURE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 12, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ML L fl/W ffi/PPER,

A TTORNEYS.

Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT.OFFICE- MINIATURE nmmimo'oonsrnuo'rion I William appa, Lakewood, Ohio Application 12, 1934, Serial No 715,092 I i zolelms. (01.46%35) i This invention, as indicated, relates to a miniarture building construction. More particularly, it comprisesa series of building elements which may be interlockingly connected with each 5 so as to produce substantially in miniature form various types of buildings which very closely ape proximate buildings which may be constructed for occupancy of full size. Theconstruction there'- fore canbe used not only for toy purposes, but for demonstration andexperimental purposes by adults as Well as children, who seek to visualize the prospective building they have in view actu.--

ally constructing preliminary to finally determim ing upon various floor plans and arrangements. The principal object of the present invention is toprovide a miniature building construction having units which'may be interlockingly engaged and present various artistic and useful forms of building construction.

Another. object of the invention isitoprovide a miniature building construction which may be used by children foramusement purposes and which: will be free from the disadvantagewhich followsthe use of ordinary toy building blocks in that the latter are subject to accidental dis placement whereas with the construction herein the parts are so interlocked that they may be handled freely withoutydisturbing the relation of the unitst'o. each other.

: Another object of the invention is to provide a series of buildingiunits of miniature type which will permit the' erection of structures simulating fullfsize structures and which will have a considerable variety, of interchangeable units so as to permit alcoves, bay-windows, and various 'types of roof construction to be employed.

' Another object'of the invention isto provide windowzunits, in the formed thin metal elements adapted to be interlockingly engaged with the building units and also to provide diflerent types and character of roof sections whichmay be selectively applied to the various structures undertaken-and suitably cover such structures after units required to introduce special featuresof construction such as alcoves and bay windows Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the courseof thefollowing description. To the .acc'omplishmentof the foregoing and related ends, saidinvention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully. described andpar'ticularly pointed out in the claimathe annexed drawings and the followingdescription setting-forth indetail certain structures embodying the invention, such disclosed means oonstitutingghowever, but several-oi,vjarious forms in which the principl Of, the invention ma be 'used.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure-'1 is a; front elevation of .a miniature I buildingcon'structed in; accordance with the in- VentiOn; l 'V Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure.1;-

ion-of another type of Figure 3 is a front elevar miniature building embodying the principles of the invention; 1

--, Figure '14 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 3;; 1 y v.

Figure 5; is a fronteleation of still another type of miniature; buildingembodying I the. prim ciplesoitlie invention; j Figure d is a side elevation of the structure shown Figure 5;, s r Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the constructional elements employed in erect-- ing the variousbuildings; =5 Figure Lisa top plantview ofi a, foundation board for a'miniaturebuildingr v i 1 3 W Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a window frame and method of positioning the same; Figure 10 is aperspective View showing-amodk fled form of windowfra-me;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view showing one form. of door frame; 1

Figures 12 totl'l jinclusive are topplan-views of building units foriorming the structures illus trated in- Figureslto 6 inclusive; 7

Figures i8. to 23 inclusive are side elevations of the units: shown, in said respective plan views;

Figures .24 and 25 are; fragmentary plan views showing combinations, of regularv and; special length buildingunits to ,form an enlarged corner structure and an ,alcove respectively;

"Figure 26 is a .pers'pective'view showing an elongated horizontal strip; and" g Figure 27 is aperspective, view showing one ,of the interlocking 'bars. I g

Asfwill morf c'learly appear. from Figures '12 to 27'of the drawirigs theunits used for'the construction are of severaloifferent form's, Figures 12' and lfiillustrating a double unit! of rectangu lar shape having two apertures; Z; for engage nient by'interlooking'bars, andFigures 13 an'd'l9 illustrating a single-unit 3 0i rectangular shape having an aperture 4-for engagement by a single interlocking bar vFigures- 14and 20, illustrate a unit 5 of rectangular shape at one end and beveled at the opposite end, and Figures 15 and 21 show a unit 6 beveled at each end, each of the last-mentioned units having apertures I, 8, respectively, for two interlocking bars.

Figures 16 and 22 show an extra length unit ll having apertures [2 for interlocking bars, and having beveled ends provided with parallel long beveled faces l3 at opposite ends of the unit, and with parallel short beveled faces M at opposite ends'of the unit, providing a block adapted to be used in constructing an alcove in the manner shown in Figure 25, wherein the elongated blocks are set at an angle of 45 degrees to the regular blocks with a portion thereof projecting freely beyond the side walls of the regular units and:

the normal position of. such units'without lost space because of the offset relation of such bev-- eled blocks. Thus, as is shown in Figure 25, the unit IA is of the same length as the unit IB, and fits between the units HA and I|B,:even though they are'of greater length than thefother'units. In thismanner an alcove or like structure can be built by using standard units with the extra length beveled end units just described. 7 The block unit [5 shownin Figures 1'7 and 23 is of extra length'and is provided with three'rodreceiving apertures disposed so that when said block is set angularly to the regular blocks, two of such apertures 16 at the ends of the block will be in alignment with the apertures in theregul'ar blocks, as is shown in Figure 24. Said blocks are also provided with an intermediate aperture ll disposed centrally of the elongated blocksi In place of such elongated blocksbeing rectangular, as seen in plan view, the outer corners l8, 19, of said units are beveled, thus providing for a bay window effect at the corners of the building, should the same be desired. This is accomplishe'd, as is shown in Figure '25, by utilizing a pair of extra length block units IS with their beveled portions at their outer corners and interposing between the same apair of single rectangular block units 3of the type illustrated in Figures 13 and 19.

The general method of constructing a building is shown in Figure 7 wherein the foundation board 2| shown in Figure 8 is first set down and building units l are then positioned about the margins thereof, the interlocking rods 22 being engaged through the alined apertures in the sev eral building units. At intervals at approximately the height of the various stories 0'1. the building, an elongated horizontal strip 23, such" as is shown in Figure 26, islaid over the severalbuilding units so as to firmly tie the elements of the structure together over an extended area'.-''"' i The interlocking bars comprise cylindrical rods preferably made of wood, or other suitablemate rial, to snugly engage the apertures in the foundation board and the'various building units. [Such interlocking ro'dsare made'of various lengthsso that 'two units may be united by a short baror a long barmay be utilized which will extend to substantially the height of the buildingwhich it is desired to erect, and all the units may. be engaged over bars of such full length extent. Where a gable roof is to be applied, it is desirable to utilize rods of different lengths so as to conform to the angle of the roof outline when the units are assembled. Likewise, when chimneys are to be erected, the rods selected for such construction should preferably be of substantially the full lengthof the chinmey, as this secures alstronger construction than where a plurality of shorter interlocking bars are used.

In addition to the standard building units to form the body portion of the structure, special units such as porch posts 24 and floor platforms 25, may be provided. Special units 26 for roof structures for the porches may also be provided.

It is planned to show on the foundation board by means of indicia such as dots, dashes, or crosses, given a distinctive number, the outline of a building 25 corresponding, forexample, to the type shown in Figures 1 and 2, and also other 1 outlines suitably and distinctively numbered,

showing the floor plan 26 of a building to correspond with the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4, and a floor plan 21 to correspond with the structure shown in Figures 5 and 6, respectively. Thus, the person using the miniature buildingunits can erect with little difliculty a building corresponding to any of the three forms ilustrated, as Wellas many other types which can be provided for, and by following the outlines on the foundation board can erect a building with very little difficulty.

@The structures, besides the variously shaped building units, include window structures, such as are shown in Figures Sand 10, which comprise apertured' sheet metal members 3|, 32, bent at their upper and lower ends so as to provide interlocking sections 33, 34 for engagement between adjacent horizontal rows of building units. Like.- wise, a sheet metal door member 35 is provided, as shown in Figure 11, which has horizontally extending members'36, 31, at the top and bottom of the same to hold such member in position.

The roof structures are preferably in the form of folded members 4|, 42 notched to provide for thechimney structures or such hip roofs 43 or gables 44, as may be associated with the main roof. Likewise, special roofs 45, 46 may be provided for the bay windowsand porches of the structure. These roofs for the bay windows and porches, if desired, may have tabs or extensions to engage between the adjacent horizontal rows of building units, but ordinarily will remain in position when set in place. Likewise, theupper roofs will ordinarily maintain themselves in position, particularly where they are notched for chimneys or for adjacent roof sections. H The method of proceeding to erect a structure with the units above described may be varied to a certain extent, but in general it is is intended that the person desiring to erect one of the structures should select a front and side elevation of a structure that conforms to the building he proposes to erect and thereupon inserts in the holes of the plan marked to correspond with such building, such as plan. 25 marked on the foundation board comprising the outline of the building shown in Figures 1 and 2, and sets into such holes along the line 25 shown on the foundation board a series of interlocking rods 22. He thereupon "slides over such rods the lower row ll! of building units about the margins of the foundation board,

and upon completing the bottom layer, proceeds to slide over the rods the second layer 20 of units, which, as shown in Figure 7, are staggered with relationto the first'layer of units. He then, upon completion of the second row of units, decides upon the position for the windows and lays the block height and a new series of bars provided for the structure above such frame. The same is true with reference to any door frames. Where there are no windows or doors, the height of the interlocking bars may be the full height of the structure, although a satisfactory structure can 23 is engaged with theinterlocking bars and this serves to aline the interlocking bars and hold the structure against weaving or local displacement of the units. The second story is laid in the same manner as the first story by selecting units of the desired character and where alcoves or corner structures are to be provided, they are set together in the manner shown in Figures 24 and 25 of the drawings.

As the building approaches the upper section where the roof is to be applied, it is necessary to use units of the type shown in Figures 14 and 20, havingbeveledportions so as to provide a suitable angle for the roof to fit over and the interlocking bars must be selected of such length as not to interfere with the position of the roof. After the side walls and chimney of the structure have been completely erected, a suitable roof section is selected and is fitted into position. Likewise, roofs for the porches and bay windows must be provided.

When the structure is completed, it will be found that it has considerable stability and is able to withstand handling to a degree not posother manner.

Other modes of applyingthe principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regardsthe structures herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

'1. A structure of the character described, having in combination a foundation board providing a series of apertures, a series of interlocking bars adapted to be engaged in said apertures,.apertured building units to engage over adjacent interlocking bars and cooperating with adjacent units to form a miniature building, and sheet metal members having top and botton horizontal flanges adapted to be engaged with said building over open spaces in said building to provide a support for overlying units and said sheet metal members having openings into the interior of the building to simulate doors and windows.

2. A structure ofthe character described,-having in combination a foundation board providing a series of apertures, a series of interlocking bars adapted to be engaged in said apertures, apertured building units to engage over adjacent interlock ing bars and cooperating with adjacentunits to form a miniature building, and units of greater length than such regular building units to be positioned angularly in the structure over longitudinal areas equal to the area of a single regular unit and to cooperate with such single regular units to form structures having projecting portions outside of the rectangular plan areas,

. WILLIAM KUPPER. I 

